Transfusion significance of Lewis system antibodies. Success in transfusion with crossmatch-compatible blood.

Patients with nonhemolytic Lewis antibodies in the serum were transfused on the basis of major crossmatch compatibility alone. No adverse clinical affects were noted when 33 such patients received a total of 230 transfusions. Considerable savings in technologist time and reagent cost were realized by adopting this policy. Transfusion on the basis of crossmatch compatibility alone did not necessarily result in the selection of Le(a-) and/or Le(b-) blood for patients with corresponding antibodies in the serum. Crossmatch compatibility ratio for patients with anti-Leb in the serum was much higher than expected and was profoundly affected by the ABO group of the donors.

Transfusion significance of Lewis system antibodies. Report on a nationwide survey.

A nationwide survey of hospital blood banks conducted in February 1979 indicated that the majority of respondents require only reagent tested Lea and/or Leb negative blood for transfusion to patients with Lewis system antibodies in their serum. The policy was followed even if the antibody(ies) no longer was demonstrable in the serum or was reactive at room temperature and below. Only 11.4 per cent select blood for these patients on the basis of major crossmatch compatibility alone; 56 per cent require only reagent tested antigen negative blood for transfusion under all circumstances. The results of this survey and a review of the literature indicate the need for further studies on the transfusion significance of Lewis system antibodies.